Is Em still the only passable lyricist in the mainstream?

[12characters]

[Solace]

Nas, Ye, and Pusha are all coming lyrically correct. Maybe not all the time, but they have their moments.

Royce is getting radio play too... although it's not his most lyrical stuff tbh.

Nas is not really main steam. I think main stream none of my friends would know who nas is honestly but they know kayne, lil wayne, em, nicki and main stream rappers.

Get some new friends then lol.

Nas is definitely mainstream, but isn't the current trend or fad for casual music listeners.

[EminemBase]

Nas, Ye, and Pusha are all coming lyrically correct. Maybe not all the time, but they have their moments.

Royce is getting radio play too... although it's not his most lyrical stuff tbh.

Nas is not really main steam. I think main stream none of my friends would know who nas is honestly but they know kayne, lil wayne, em, nicki and main stream rappers.

Nas is mainstream.

His last two albums both debuted at #1, and Hip-Hop is Dead sold over 300k in its first week, in 2006 (one of the deadest periods in hip-hop, and with the entire industry struggling with sales).

He may not be as well known across different genres, but he's a mainstream rapper. Rap fans across the world know who he is and his albums chart internationally.

He's not a fully visible global icon on the level of Em or Kanye, but he's definitely mainstream.

[rockbottom]

J. Cole?

[Man1x]

Jay-Z, Ye in his best moments, Nas, 50 Cent sometimes but it's very limited, Dr. dre (I know he has ghostwriters), Kendrick Lamar, I'd say Black Hippy but they aren't in the mainstream YET, Yelawolf, Pusha T sometimes, Common, Tech N9ne (mainstream now), Andre 3000, B.o.B., T.I. At his best, Lupe Fiasco, and J.Cole.

[Kill You]

When we're talking actual mainstream as in big artists, then Em is definitely the best...he's better than a lot of rap you hear on the radio. At least imo. Jay-Z is on up there as well, and Kanye has some nice lyricism sometimes.

[SliK]

Lupe

[Cube23]

Andre 3000 is the best mainstream lyricist.

[Accor]

Andre 3000 is the best mainstream lyricist.

He's not really mainstream is he?

Yes, yes he is.

OT: Eminem isn't a passable lyricist in 2012 and hasn't been since 2010. If you only consider global icons to be mainstream then Jay-Z and Kanye west are better lyrically atm.

[Cube23]

Andre 3000 is the best mainstream lyricist.

He's not really mainstream is he?

Yes, yes he is.

OT: Eminem isn't a passable lyricist in 2012 and hasn't been since 2010. If you only consider global icons to be mainstream then Jay-Z and Kanye west are better lyrically atm.

I'll agree, yet somewhat disagree with this. The last album Eminem was a part of, he had 4 or 5 songs that were very good lyrically(Hell: The Sequel). I do think Kanye is better at the moment and Jay-Z is about on the same level. Eminem's lyrics on Recovery were flat out terrible imo. His attempt to bend words like the "Love is evil" line on Space Bound was just pure pain to listen to. He shows sparks here and there, but man.. It's depressing listening to him currently.

Big Boi is mainstream, I'd say. He's up there too.

[slimsoxshady]

T.I.

[Accor]

I'll agree, yet somewhat disagree with this. The last album Eminem was a part of, he had 4 or 5 songs that were very good lyrically(Hell: The Sequel). I do think Kanye is better at the moment and Jay-Z is about on the same level. Eminem's lyricals on Recovery were flat out terrible imo. His attempt to bend words like the "Love is evil" line on Space Bound was just pure pain to listen to. He shows sparks here and there, but man.. It's depressing listening to him currently.

Big Boi is mainstream, I'd say. He's up there too.

His lyrics were pretty bad on HTS for the most part. Some songs on Recovery were good lyrically like GTC and Space Bound, but there's also some of the worst songs of all time like Won't Back Down. He's been very, very inconsistent since 2003 though and most of the shit he's released since then has been bad.

[Cube23]

I'll agree, yet somewhat disagree with this. The last album Eminem was a part of, he had 4 or 5 songs that were very good lyrically(Hell: The Sequel). I do think Kanye is better at the moment and Jay-Z is about on the same level. Eminem's lyricals on Recovery were flat out terrible imo. His attempt to bend words like the "Love is evil" line on Space Bound was just pure pain to listen to. He shows sparks here and there, but man.. It's depressing listening to him currently.

Big Boi is mainstream, I'd say. He's up there too.

His lyrics were pretty bad on HTS for the most part. Some songs on Recovery were good lyrically like GTC and Space Bound, but there's also some of the worst songs of all time like Won't Back Down. He's been very, very inconsistent since 2003 though and most of the shit he's released since then has been bad.

Relapse was about as consistent he has been since that time period. Above The Law and A Kiss have some lyrics that stick out as atrocities, but overall, I enjoyed them.. Fast Lane was okay and Take From Me and Welcome 2 Hell were pretty solid all around. I haven't listened to the album in awhile, though.

[Accor]

Relapse was about as consistent he has been since that time period. Above The Law and A Kiss have some lyrics that stick out as atrocities, but overall, I enjoyed them.. Fast Lane was okay and Take From Me and Welcome 2 Hell were pretty solid all around. I haven't listened to the album in awhile, though.

Relapse is pretty bad too lol.. Has one of the best songs he's ever made on it though (Deja Vu).

[Cube23]

Relapse was about as consistent he has been since that time period. Above The Law and A Kiss have some lyrics that stick out as atrocities, but overall, I enjoyed them.. Fast Lane was okay and Take From Me and Welcome 2 Hell were pretty solid all around. I haven't listened to the album in awhile, though.

Relapse is pretty bad too lol.. Has one of the best songs he's ever made on it though (Deja Vu).

I don't understand how you can say that. Aside from the singles, his lyrics on that were pretty much of a high quality. He didn't force (too many) jokes or any cheesy punchlines for the most part. He rhymed words that don't even rhyme due to the accent and it had very vivid storytelling and fantastic rhyme schemes at times.